Phoenix's Wish List For Relations With Mexico

PHOENIX — Phoenix government and city leader were in Mexico City last week for a trade mission. What were they after?

The delegation to Mexico came down with a new promotional video that shows off the tourist sites in downtown Phoenix, narrated by a perky Spanish-speaker. It highlights the US Airways Arena, local sports, and nightlife spots like the Crescent Ballroom.

Both the Phoenix Suns NBA team and the Arizona Diamondbacks MLB team were represented on the trip, including former Diamondbacks player Luis Gonzalez. The team representatives networked with tourism package promoters about bringing Mexican tourists to games, and held a press conference with Mexican sports media.

Phoenix is also trying to boost the number of flights between Phoenix and Mexican cities.

Arizona's business community has long hoped that improvements at the Guaymas port could help increase the state's international trade.

Business interests in Phoenix want the expanded port to accommodate shipping containers, and want to be sure expanded capacity at the port is accompanied by increased freight capacity between Arizona and Guaymas.

Phoenicians in attendance at the meeting with Ruiz de Teresa were hopeful it would pave the way for more detailed conversations about the project down the line.

Sebastian gave the Phoenix delegation a tour of his gallery and work shop in Mexico City.

City officials are hoping Phoenix will be able to host a traveling exhibition that is currently on display in Brownsville, Texas. It is a collection of 12 sculptures representing the signs of the Zodiac. Stanton hopes to put them in front of Phoenix light rail stations.

We can expect more Phoenix trade missions to Mexico in the future, and Stanton is also hoping to create a permanent presence in Mexico City in the form of a city office. He said it is a goal of his to create the office within his first term.

San Antonio already has three offices in Mexico, including one in Mexico City known as "Casa San Antonio" that houses a city employee and four contractors. Phoenix officials stopped by for a visit. Jill Metcalfe, the office's director, told them San Antonio's presence in the capitol gives the city an advantage for promoting cross-border business.